Q&A With James Pelton, CEO of Mobile Text Alerts

1. Tell us a bit about Mobile Text Alerts.

Mobile Text Alerts is a software platform that allows you to send out mass text messages to groups of people. Businesses use it mainly for marketing and for notifying their employees of things such as meetings, weather closings, etc.

2. What gave you the idea for your business and how did it start?

In 2011 our church’s youth group was looking for a way to notify the other students in the group about announcements. We tried Twitter, Facebook, etc, but nothing seemed to work. Eventually I thought text messaging could be a good solution. The existing solutions were too bulky and pricey, so I created my own.

3. What’s your favorite thing about your job?

Having a flexible schedule so that I am able to invest time in my church and my family (Wife Alyssa, and 3 kids)

4. What are your keys to making yourself productive?

A to-do list is a necessity for me to get what needs to be done out of my head and on to a list. I have also found it very helpful to schedule my top priorities for the next day. Each night I think “What 3 things could I accomplish and consider it a productive day?”

5. Tell us one long-term goal in your career.

I would like to grow my business to the point that my employees can have the same time/financial freedom that I enjoy

6. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?

“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23

7. What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?

Work hard and focus on offering value, rather than just making money. If you focus on offering value, the money will follow

8. What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I love preaching the Bible, spending time with my family, watching movies, and playing basketball

9. Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.

If you are starting a software as a service business (SaaS) as I have, then From Impossible to Inevitable by Aaron Ross is a gem. I’ve also really enjoyed The One Thing by Gary Keller and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey for productivity.